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In this episode, I speak with Roger Crisp, Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Oxford, about the role of ethics in our personal lives and society. We start with a discussion of Aristotle’s ideas on human flourishing and compare them with utilitarian approaches that focus on maximizing happiness. Roger explains how different ethical traditions address the question of what it means to live well, and we explore whether it is possible or even desirable to measure happiness.
We also talk about the challenges of applying moral philosophy to real-world decisions, especially when theoretical ideals meet practical constraints. Roger shares examples of how moral reasoning can guide policy, personal choices, and our interactions with others. Along the way, we touch on topics such as virtue, moral motivation, and how philosophical thinking can help navigate life’s complex trade-offs.
This conversation offers an accessible look at how philosophy connects to everyday life, showing that moral theory isn’t just an academic exercise, it’s a tool for understanding ourselves and making better decisions in a complicated world.
00:00 – Introduction: Welcoming Roger Crisp and his work on ethics and well-being
02:00 – Early influences: Plato, Mill, and the origins of moral philosophy
07:00 – Discovering philosophy through classics and the problem of defining “the good”
11:00 – What is well-being? Understanding good for versus good in general
15:00 – The experiential view: Is pleasure all that matters for a good life?
19:00 – Accomplishment, meaning, and the limits of hedonism
23:00 – Why defining the good life matters for how we live
28:00 – Family, culture, and the tension between tradition and questioning
33:00 – Education, parenting, and who defines a “good life” for children
38:00 – Reflecting on philosophy’s impact on personal decision-making
42:00 – The ethics of self-interest and collective well-being
47:00 – Pain, suffering, and the art of finding pleasure in discomfort
52:00 – Buddhism, neuroscience, and the science of pleasure
57:00 – Higher versus lower pleasures and what truly brings happiness
1:01:00 – Education, policy, and the danger of quantifying happiness
1:05:00 – The paradox of hedonism and the importance of indirect joy
1:08:00 – Final reflections: Thinking about well-being as a lifelong practice
